Oh, hello!
Has a week really gone by since I shared anything here? Well, let's just pretend I was respecting your Christmas time with friends and family and therefore chose not to clutter your inbox or reader with any words from me. Sound good?
Really, this past week has flown by for us. Last week, Kyle's mom and sister came and deep cleaned our house, and I have to tell you that is the BEST GIFT EVER. Ever, ever, ever. Ever.
That was the beginning of a wave of family visits for Christmas. Kyle took over on food prep for the meals we served, and I'm just going to be honest - the use of paper plates and plastic silverware has hit cringe-worthy heights. In some ways, the overflowing garbage bag is symbolic of the many principles and ideals I'm being forced to lay aside for the time being. I pretty much just wander around muttering to myself, "It's just a season. It won't be like this forever. We're doing the best we can."
It's worth noting that this week's belly shot is from inside the house because we've had QUITE the snap of winter weather. As you know, I'm an unrepentant Snow Grinch, and so the 1-2 inches of powdery white stuff + slippery streets + ICY COLD TEMPERATURES have made me a little cranky. There was just no way I was heading outside to do any kind of pictures this week.
I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the babies are comfortably low right now. It's kind of nice, actually, where the belly has settled for the time being. I'm guessing from where I'm feeling them that they are still stacked transverse with A underneath B.
Here's the part where I list the physical complaints, so if a pregnant lady complaining about a healthy pregnancy annoys or irritates you, feel free to skim on past:
- My feet hurt. All the time. From the time I wake up until I go to bed at night, my feet are swollen and hurty.
- I snore SO MUCH, y'all. Earth-shattering snoring that sends my poor husband to the living room to find shelter from the storm. It's so embarrassing.
- Basically, nighttime is not my friend. Even when I arrange the pillows just right so I can fall asleep, it never fails that every night when I wake up to visit the bathroom at 2 AM, my legs or hips or something is asleep. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I truly don't know how much longer I'll be able to get out of bed by myself. And we don't have a recliner, so that isn't an alternative that I can pursue.
- I'm finding myself feeling queasy again, and it's bringing back so many unpleasant memories of the first part of this pregnancy. I've heard people say that sometimes the sick tummy comes back towards the end, and I'm so, so hopeful it will just be a little queasiness and not the vomit-fest of before.
- The contractions. Oh, the contractions. Whether you call them Braxton Hicks or practice contractions or whatever, they are absolutely picking up in frequency and intensity. Nothing painful yet like an early labor contraction, but enough to just wear me out.
/irritating complaints
Basically, I feel like I've hit the wall on energy at this point. Or maybe I've hit the first of several walls. I've napped a few times this week which I never do. I fall asleep before 9:30 and I don't think I've gotten up before 8:00 one morning since the girls have been on winter break. A shower leaves me needing half an hour to recover. I'm just ... tired.
But! I am definitely also starting to have lots of happy, dreamy new baby thoughts. I do so love snuggling babies. And yes, I'm mind-boggled by the logistics of two newborns, but gosh. Babies. In less than eight weeks, they'll be here. Eight weeks! Maybe less! Ay yi yi!
Sweet gifts from dear friends continue to show up as happy surprises. My friend Kendra who has twin boys of her own gave us a car seat, a bouncer, and a swing. SUCH a relief to begin getting those essentials collected.
And in the way of non-essential but oh-so-darling-and-sweet, Lora Lynn (also a twin mama!) sent these proper Little Men outfits:
and I nearly fainted dead away from the stunning package all the way from Canada, fresh off the needles of Sarah Bessey:
Overall, when I stop to consider the fact that we've made it this far - thirty weeks of growing two humans in my body - I am incredibly, deeply, staggeringly overwhelmed with gratitude. Sometimes, I still feel as surprised by it all as I felt that day on the exam table and the words "both of them." And sometimes, it feels perfect. Like, of course we're having twin boys - it's how it was always meant to be.
And now we have to get serious about minivan shopping. I mean. Less than eight weeks, y'all.
